Adios America!

Last official stop in South America: Buenos Aires. I hadn't heard the best things and wasn't expecting much, but I actually loved this city - or at the very least, I loved the day and a half I spent there :) I checked into Milhouse Avenue, a designated party hostel, and had a lot of fun with--unexpectedly--two Brazilian girls. Went to bed at 5am and woke up four hours later to do everything I could possibly do: Palermo-Plaza Italia-Plaza Serrano-Zoological Garden-Botanical Gardens-Japanese Gardens-Plaza San Martin-MALBA-Museo de Belles Artes-Plaza Francia-Recoleta Cemetery-Peatonal Florida-Peatonal Lavalle-Teatro Colon-Obelisk and then somet. I had about five minutes to rest and then I was off to the River Plate-Banfield game. LOVE the way the fans are singing and chanting the entire game! River won after a goal relatively late in the game and I admit, my fist punched the air in victory. Back to the hostel for another night out with the Brazilian girls.


Woke up early the next day to see the Plaza del Mayo, Casa Rosada, Puerto Madero, and the Ecological Reserve. Next, I picked up my stuff at the hostel and bused to the famous La Cabrera restaurant. I didn't have a reservation and the lady was going to make me wait for 45 minutes to see if a space opened up off the WAITING LIST... but then I think I seemed pathetic enough with my backpack and hunger that she seated me right away. I wanted a good steak for my last meal in Argentina, I got it! I think it was 500 grams of filet mignon with a ton of garnishes: assorted breads, creamed spinach, mashed potatoes, yams, apple sauce, olive spread, mashed vegetables, onions in gravy sauce, caprese salad, hearts of palm, pickled cream, and garden salad. Oh, I also enjoyed it with a bottle of wine to myself. Really amazing meal! (Thanks Ben, for the recommendation!)


I went straight to the airport after lunch, checked into my flight, then I was off to Africa! Buenos Aires is big, bustling, and beautiful and I would be happy to come back and explore more of the city some day.

So on this trip, I am officially done with South America. It's really hard for me to pick and choose favorites because there was good and bad about every country. Chile is definitely at the top of the list though... the prettiest night sky I've ever seen was in San Pedro de Atacama and the food was really fantastic! LOVED the enormous (and delicious) steaks I had in Argentina... LOVED the salt flats and cheap books in Bollivia... I could go on and on. I feel so lucky to have had these last three amazing months, and without major incident. Stats are updated down below to give you an idea of my bug and boozing habits. Enjoy!